A very important symbol that Salinger uses in this famous text is the Museum of Natural History. Salinger uses this symbol to establish central truths about the character of Holden. One of the interesting things about him is his self-confessed love of the mummies at the museum. All of the displays, but of course especially the mummies, represent the kind of frozen immobility that appeals to Holden. They, unlike himself, don't change, and they can be counted upon to stay the same. Note what he says about how he likes to look at the mummy exhibition:

I sort of liked it, in a way. It was so nice and peaceful.

Holden desires a world that represents frozen time, that is resistant to the forces of change, and which is immune to the chaotic changes that life forces on people. He is somebody that is bewildered by his brother's death, somebody who hates conflict and somebody who finds change very difficult to manage. As a result, the museum is somewhere that he likes.

Salinger uses many lucky symbols in his works to show to fulfill the quest for happiness. In "Soft-Broiled Sergeant" one of the soldiers wears a pair of lucky underwear, which saves him in battle and helps in finding the love of his life (French, J.D. Salinger 42). The underwear gives the soldier the happiness he is looking for (French, J.D. Salinger 45). Salinger many times uses funny lucky symbols like this, but can be found to provide happiness for the characters (Salzberg 121). Another example of lucky symbols is in "For Esme" Salinger portrays the sun as a lucky symbol to Joseph Carney (French, J.D. Salinger 63). The sun is lucky to Joseph in that it helps Joseph turn his entire life around, from the rut it had been into a life of great prosperity (French, J.D. Salinger 66). The sun provides inspiration for Joseph to change his life (French, J.D.Salinger 66). The characters in J.D. Salinger’s works start out in bad situations. Through the use of lucky symbols their life is changed to what will make them happy. Salinger uses symbolism in his works also to foreshadow a better life. In "Long Debut of Louis Taggett" the symbol of a cigarette being put out foreshadows the end of a marriage (Galloway in Curley and Kramer 58). The end of this marriage for Louis Taggett, means good for his life (Galloway in Curley and Kramer 61). Louis at the end of the story is able toconcentrate more on his job, where he meets the woman that will reallylove him, and find wealth and prosperity (Galloway in Curley and Kramer 59). This symbolism to foreshadow is one of many examples of how Salinger uses symbolism to predict a better life (Galloway in Curley and Kramer 61). Salinger many times use subtle, but important symbols to foreshadow better things (Galloway in Curley and Kramer 62). The character, in this work, has suffered through hardships.